Stilldragons 8" column

Hi to you all,
I have one pc 8" column and a lot of bubbelcaps with sd 8" copper plate, but a allso like Sieve plates.. sorry but they are cheep and good for vodka...
Updates:
Now I counted again, because when you pin copper plates in Stillwater Dragons 8 "modules, it becomes wet active flat surface a little less than it is when you roll a copper plate around the copper plate ...

Hole area with 1730pc 1.5 mm hole is approximately 10.3% of the wet active flat surface ... If I've counted correctly ... : roll:
This will become hyper interesting to try: wink: for I believe in this 100% and now it is maximized as much as it goes ...

Comments

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Harley, your sieve or perforated plate would work quite well with the 8" glass columns that are under construction.
Shown is the custom made 8" sight tower with a 2" tower inside it to show scale. This thing is huge!

It was Harley that first asked for a giant (8") sight tower to be made. I couldn't find anyone that had one for sale so I had to have them custom made. I also followed Harley's suggestion of using 8 tie-rods instead of only 4. Good call that, it makes the column very solid.
You guys should listen to Harley, I know I do :)

Sieve plates are inexpensive to manufacture, and so far as I know they can give 96%, with a number of at least 10pc, probably so is needed approximately 20pc if the mash is as weak as 6%.
They give about 20% more product per hour than the equivalent bubbelcaps makes in the same size of column and they are self-draining after completing distillation, this is important ...
If bubbelcaps or sieve plates transmits most flavor, this, I must return to when I have evaluated this through some blind tests of some whiskey clubs here in town where I live ...
But for vodka and speed - flow per hour then sieve plates very hard to beat ...
For whiskey and other flavored products I do not know yet ....
In a glass column and you'll see them wery cool out, almost completely flat except for the return pipe ... and many learn to wonder how this could work, etc., so it will be a real eye-catcher ....

The biggest reason I have messed and made ​​the return tubes controllable is that I chase maximum flavor transfer and want to see how different liquid levels affect the taste ...

This is my test column, a stilldragon 8" in ss with both 3pc stilldragons bubbelcaps plates ore my own 8" sieve plates.
This is a lovley 8" ss modul column becouse it can be taken apart wery fast and this suits me perfect.

Here you have Sd 8 "bubbelcaps plate with 17pc bubelcaps and just 2pc rebounds, but I think this is enough for me and my future way to distill on ...
This and my sieve plates will be exchanged in my sd 8 "column.
Next "project" is a 12" with 3pc plates and about 33pc sd bubbelcaps for whisky produktions comersiellt...

Lloyd let the cat out of the Bag. He has been working on this 8" Glass Column for me over the last few weeks as his guinea pig. We plan on running 2 stacks of 5 pieces of glass giving us 11 plates on a 350 gallon boiler with up to 44,000 watts of power during heat-up. I expect it will take about 22,000 Watts to keep it running.

@RedDoorDistillery said:
Lloyd let the cat out of the Bag. He has been working on this 8" Glass Column for me over the last few weeks as his guinea pig. We plan on running 2 stacks of 5 pieces of glass giving us 11 plates on a 350 gallon boiler with up to 44,000 watts of power during heat-up. I expect it will take about 22,000 Watts to keep it running.

350 gallon, a think that it is about 1250 liter, and with this big size of boiler and with about 1000liter loading capacity it shall take some time to be finish with a 8" column even when it is in sieve plates, nowe a think that you have about 10% hole area so this 8" glasscolumn have same output that a 10" bubbelcaps shall have.... and if we "forget" all heating power that go lost to the boiler-room if the boiler issnt insulated... then this 8" glass ore ss column with about 10% and 1,5mm hole shall be abel to handel power betven 16 000 watt to about 25 000watt ( this is one of the benefit with 1,5mm hole, wide powerband and maximum speed with 10% .some enginers that a have talk to say that a can go up to 12% hole area with 1,5mm hole....) and shall teoretiskt give 15-25 liter per hour in produkt collect, but that is much depending on the % of mash allso... and a dont think that you shall have room for 11pc plates if the glascolumn looks same as in festers foto... first plate is relly low and you need the space in top for the deflegmentator... so a think that 10pc plates is what shall be good and have same distans betven them...
I have 20pc 8" sieve plates in my vodka column, and shall have only 3pc 12" bubbelcaps plates in my whisky column for maximum taste transfer.... and a have 500 liter of loading capasity in a insulated old milktank that shall have 6pc 5500watts elektic heaters totalt 33 000watt power and both my column shall be on a bench on the side... 8" 20pc sieve plates standing on the bench shall be totalt 4,5 meter height..Cheers :ar!

There is also a nother thing that you should think of, if you go hight on the hole % than the plate level can note be so hight, i think that 10% hole area shall wourk best with 10-20mm plate level in max 10pc if it is more plates than it is a good idea to lower the plate level som mm and with 12% hole area a think that 10mm is a good plate level. but all this a shall tested in my SD 8" modular column later ,, report of all this shall come in some month, and yeas am little crasy becouse a want to test it all to the limit then a nowe where the limit is Cheers :ar!

ps the taste is in the steam and note in the reflux mixed plate licuid....

Photos will come later when there's something NEW to see and virtually all parts I use are purchased from Still dragon, now I like copper so all copper columns are locally produced.
I do not want to publish a bunch of photos that many of you already have seen on other forums! so it is better that you look into my own thread in Sweden, in Swedish brewing forums.
I have all the authorizations clear since last year but I have not yet distilled something.
I still building more and learn to do soo in a number of months to .. i relly like to building and see if a can make it better than "orginal" so now am sitting and thinking of a khote solution that makes all returpipe height regular -controll from outside, this is my next solution in my 12" copper bubbel caps column.. then a dont need any agly pipe or cranes from eath plate to drain it ... a like it clean...
http://www.bryggforum.nu/viewtopic.php?t=17335&start=270

Hey Harley. Yes we know the 350gallon will run for along time we charge with 250gallons. I have a 4" column on it now and that is why we are moving to 8" and targeting 16L hr. I may eventually rig this up with 2 columns both 8" running side by side doubling the output to 36L per hr. We are planning for 10% open area with 1.5mm holes. Stripping to 40% and then running a 2nd run from that. Targeting 16L per hour we know it will still take about 24hours to run a full run giving us around 350L at 96%.

Here you can see all the parts for my 20st plates sieve column, exept reflux cooler.
From right 1st 10 plates section + 1pc 6 plates section + 1st 4 plates section.
They stand in the wrong direction on the image and there is no sight glass for the top plate of each section, did not fit if I would have exactly the same dimensions all the way between the tiles and the ceiling in the room had taken mind if I increase the overall length .... more. It is about 12,5cm betven eath plate( for SD sight glass).
Cheers :ar!

This was the first column I have designed and commissioned manufacture but not the last, it'll be more when everything is tested and evaluated. I intend to develop this 8 inch sieve column to max in sections at 10pc and 3pc sections ... As far as I know, I am the only one in Sweden that produces commercial plants in Sweden and only for my self until now .... And I will probably continue with this small-scale and locally for others if they want to by it.. Made in Sweden by Harley .... and with me it will all have the opportunity to also test distill and see how everything works before they possibly ordering a column in Sieve ore bubbelcaps or fully complete distillation plant ... remember that a allso have SD lovley 8" modular column and the freedom of choice between different materials and designs will be great and then maybe fester sell some more of his lovley 8" in SS or 8" glass columns to Sweden... I shall do what a can to make this happen.

My goal is that is shall make it grow more small distilleries in Sweden but that they should note have to be skinned by the big German manufacturers .. small micro breweries we have received and given new almost every week but new micro distilleries is it bad with ...

I'm not finished with the the premises yet (more fun to get involved with the development of equipment) and goes all I've thought so learn everything to be completed before the New Year ... hopefully after the holiday-July-August.

My problem really is that as soon as I make 1 liter then all the authorities shall come and visit and then everything must be finished down to the smallest little detail ... for all permits from all agencies-state are already ready and approved on my documents ...
I live in Sweden, the country with most rules and regulations in the world probably ...but I have completed all the authorities and have the opportunity to also help others in the future as they get started ..

You are helping to set a new standard in Sweden, congratulations to you, Harley.
Its so good of you to give back so freely of your time and experience.
I for one appreciate it.
Someday all of Sweden will appreciate it too with the tasty drop from your distillery.